Updated on October 5th, 2023
Kombucha is a fermented drink made from a combination of a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, called SCOBY, and sweetened tea. This mixture of bacteria and yeast will turn the sugar into ethanol and acetic acid. As a result, the Kombucha’s distinctive taste comes from acetic acid.
Kombucha is usually a combination of sugar, water, black or green tea, and SCOBY. It is typically left to ferment for about a week and then some more to become fizzy. In the end, fruits or spices get added to give it some extra taste. Here are six benefits of Kombucha tea that will make you want to start drinking it immediately.
Potential Source of Probiotics
Yogurts, sauerkraut, and kefir are fermented products that contain live microorganisms. Kombucha is also a fermented product, so a series of probiotic microbes get produced. It contains lactic acid bacteria that could have probiotic properties.
Probiotic bacteria are beneficial for your gut’s flora which improves digestion. It can also improve other aspects of health, such as reducing the risk of inflammation. If you are on a diet, good news as Kombucha also helps with weight loss.
Contains Antioxidants
Our bodies need protection from free radicals that cause oxidative damage. This is where antioxidants come to save us. Unfortunately, since our bodies age, they cannot fight the effects of free radicals, so to help ourselves, we need to consume food and drinks that contain antioxidants.
For example, green tea is known for its antioxidant properties. The bioactive components, like polyphenols, are potent antioxidants that help our bodies against free radicals. Kombucha made from green tea may have the same benefits. It all depends on how it was fermented.
Can Kill Bacteria
When Kombucha gets fermented, it produces acetic acid, the same product that can also be found in vinegar. Like polyphenols in green tea help with weight loss and keep blood sugar levels in check, acetic acids may help kill bacteria.
Kombucha made from green and black tea may have antibacterial properties, which help against Candida yeast and other infectious bacteria.
May Reduce Heart Disease Risk
This sparkling tea with adaptogens may help prevent heart diseases. Kombucha, or mushroom tea, contains adaptogens that help the body respond to stress and fatigue. Adaptogens are often used in herbal medicine to reduce the symptoms of exhaustion. Thus, drinking Kombucha makes you more relaxed.
May Contain Minerals and Vitamins
During the fermentation process, the yeast will break down the sugar, producing small amounts of minerals and vitamins. As a result, kombucha contains vitamin C and B groups such as B1, B6, and B12. Each kombucha brand has different levels of vitamins, depending on how it is fermented.
May Aid Constipation
Kombucha helps out with gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, kombucha contains lactobacillus, a type of probiotic that helps with bloating and constipation.
Overall, Kombucha is a popular drink that is refreshing and might have fantastic health benefits. However, if you are suffering from any illnesses, you should always ask a doctor for advice to ensure that Kombucha is safe for drinking.
Research
Kombucha is a refreshing beverage obtained by the fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic bacteria and fungi, consumed for its beneficial effects on human health. Research conducted in Russia at the beginning of the century and testimony indicate that Kombucha can improve resistance against cancer, prevent cardiovascular diseases, promote digestive functions, stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammatory problems, and can have many other benefits. In this paper, we report on studies that shed more light on the properties of some constituents of Kombucha.
The main compounds implicated in these beneficial effects seem to be polyphenols, which are also abundant in tea. These molecules act as antioxidants, and can scavenge reactive oxygen species, which are involved in the development of many diseases. In addition, polyphenols can modulate several cellular signaling pathways and gene expression, thus playing a role in cancer prevention.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts are also important constituents of Kombucha. These microbes can produce several bioactive compounds with health-promoting effects, such as short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and enzymes. In addition, LAB and yeasts can modulate the gut microbiota, which is involved in many aspects of human health.
All these studies suggest that Kombucha is a complex beverage with several biologically active compounds that could be responsible for its health-promoting effects. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects and to confirm the efficacy of Kombucha in humans.
Kombucha is a refreshing beverage obtained by the fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic bacteria and fungi, consumed for its beneficial effects on human health. Research conducted in Russia at the beginning of the century and testimony indicate that Kombucha can improve resistance against cancer, prevent cardiovascular diseases, promote digestive functions, stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammatory problems, and can have many other benefits. In this paper, we report on studies that shed more light on the properties of some constituents of Kombucha.
The main compounds implicated in these beneficial effects seem to be polyphenols, which are also abundant in tea. These molecules act as antioxidants, and can scavenge reactive oxygen species, which are involved in the development of many diseases. In addition, polyphenols can modulate several cellular signaling pathways and gene expression, thus playing a role in cancer prevention.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts are also important constituents of Kombucha. These microbes can produce several bioactive compounds with health-promoting effects, such as short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and enzymes. In addition, LAB and yeasts can modulate the gut microbiota, which is involved in many aspects of human health.
All these studies suggest that Kombucha is a complex beverage with several biologically active compounds that could be responsible for its health-promoting effects. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects and to confirm the efficacy of Kombucha in humans.
Refences
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168160515301951
- https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1541-4337.12073
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814606004250
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814607012940
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996900000673
